Wau-bun eBook

So the friends all went in a body to the lodge of
the Red Fox. The bridegroom, the bride, and the
grandmother made all the resistance possible, but
they were overpowered by numbers, and, the Hart having
remained conveniently waiting on the outside where
there was no danger, the beautiful daughter of the
chief was placed upon his back, and he coursed away
through the forest to carry her to his own home.
When he arrived at the door of his lodge, however,
he turned his head, but no bride was in the place
where he expected to see her. He had thought his
burden very light from the beginning, but that he supposed
was natural to spirits returned from the dead.
He never imagined she had at the outset glided from
her seat, and in the midst of the tumult slipped back,
unobserved, to her chosen husband.

One or two attempts were made by the friends, after
this, to repossess themselves of the young creature,
but all without success. Then they said, “Let
her remain where she is. It is true the Red Fox
occasioned her death, but by his watchfulness and
care he caressed her into life again; therefore she
rightfully belongs to him.” So the Red Fox
and his beautiful bride lived long together in great
peace and happiness.

CHAPTER XXX.

STORY OF SHEE-SHEE-BANZE.

There was a young man named Shee-shee-banze (the Little
Duck) paddling his canoe along the shore of the lake.

Two girls came down to the edge of the water, and,
seeing him, the elder said to the younger, “Let
us call to him to take us a sail.”

It must be remarked that in all Indian stories where
two or more sisters are the dramatis personae,
the elder is invariably represented as silly, ridiculous,
and disgusting—­the younger, as wise and
beautiful.

In the present case the younger remonstrated.
“Oh, no,” said she, “let us not
do such a thing. What will he think of us?”

But the other persevered, and called to him, “Ho!
come and take us into your canoe.” The
young man obeyed, and, approaching the shore, he took
them with him into the canoe.

“Who are you?” asked the elder sister.

“I am Way-gee-mar-kin,” replied
he, “the great chief.”

This Way-gee-mar-kin was something of a fairy, for
when surrounded by his followers, and wishing to confer
favors on them, he had a habit of coughing slightly,
when there would fly forth from his mouth quantities
of silver brooches, ear-bobs, and other ornaments,
for which it was the custom of his people to scramble,
each striving, as in more civilized life, to get more
than his share.

Accordingly, the elder sister said, “If you
are Way-gee-mar-kin, let us see you cough.”

Shee-shee-banze had a few of these silver ornaments
which he had got by scrambling, and which he kept
stowed away in the sides of his mouth in case of emergency.
So he gave some spasmodic coughs and brought forth
a few, which the girl eagerly seized.